This local ox/rhinoceros beetle is native to the Southern US and the tropics. Populations are much higher in the tropics than the US. It is considered a pest on palm plantations. It has the potential to kill young palms in Texas landscapes. It tends to attack non-woody palms. The adults do the damage.

Elephant beetles (Megasoma elephas; Scarabaeidae) weighing from 10 to 35 grams, respond homeothermically when ambient temperature is reduced below about 20°C in the laboratory. This metabolic response is not associated with locomotion or any other overt activity. Warming is initiated when the body temperature reaches an apparent set point of 20° to 22°C. Unlike the case for euthermic birds and mammals, energy metabolism and body temperature in these beetles are conspicuously oscillatory, with a given cycle in oxygen consumption peaking before the corresponding cycle in body temperature.Submitted on February 5, 1982Revised on April 13, 1982

About Me

A San Antonio gardener who usually has had pretty good luck until the rhinoceros/ ox beetle killed my palms.
The purpose of this blog is to "spread the word".
Secondly, hopefully some of the research articles can help define the problem.
Such as habitat etc.
No one has enough time to do all of this research, but me, because it's my problem.
I figured I might as well share the research in this little blog.
Google Translator is added to the bottom of the webpage.